Monday, April 30, 2012

I know all of us love the Tim Holtz metal book corners (who wouldn't?). But if your local hobby store never has any in stock like (like mine) what's a girl (or guy) to do? Well I'll tell ya what I've come up with; and I think it's pretty ingenious if I do say so myself!

For this project you will need a good sized photo corner die or punch (i used the quickutz photo corners - smallest of the three), some cardstock scraps, sizzix machine of some kind, an embossing folder with a floral or paisley type pattern and some black paint...and some metal plumbers tape of course. That's it.

Start by taping some strips of the metal tape down to cardstock (I used black scraps). Next, cut four corners with your punch or die. Place all four corners in your embossing folder and emboss (if you emboss and then cut it flattens the pattern). Next paint with black paint - count to 3 and wipe off - leaving paint in the recessed areas. I made a bunch because you can store them flat. When you are ready to use them, you glue them on leaving enough border to roll around the back of your page (the scalloped edge on my die gives a nice finished look on the inside cover too!).

While I came up with this because they were out of stock, I'm so happy I did- I can make any size I want and color with alcohol inks too. If you try them send me a note I would love to see what you came up with!

Thursday, April 26, 2012

If you saw my last post you know I was playing with a new technique I learned from YouTube channel rach0113 (Rachel). Well my friend's daughter is down on bed rest and I wanted to make her a little gift ... Something she can use now. So I thought maybe this journal notepad that she could use for notes, doodling, word games etc. (oh and journaling - duh). I thought I might even print out some journaling prompts to go with it. I used chipboard letters and the Tim Holtz caged bird and flourish die cuts in chipboard with the same technique as the mini one I made. I did add some pearls and a bead cap metal flower to this one, along with a metal covered pencil...let me know what you think!

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

I've been using metal plumbers tape for scrapbooking for as long as I can remember, but I found an artist on YouTube (rach0113) who made me consider it in an all new way.

I've used it as trim, on binding, to create metal embellishments, to back paper piecings to make them bendable, to run through embossing folders, etc., but I love, love, love this technique!

For a video tutorial go check out her you tube channel, but it's so easy. I simply stuck down chipboard letters to a mini composition book, added some drywall tape bits, some chipboard gears and then started piecing the plumbers tape on top. When it was totally covered I embossed (using the end of a paint brush because I couldn't find my embossing tool) to make the chipboard and drywall tape pop. I then used a couple different tools to add texture, a coat of black paint wiped off, and a bit of gold rub here and there to finish it off. That's it; that's all there is to it.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

I am so relieved that after tonight this project will be over - lol! Who would have thought these arrows would be as much prep work as they turned out (okay, most of it was because I can't do simple, but hey . .?!)? I made sure that each arrow fit with an arrowhead, created a hanging feather embellishment with leather beads and feathers for each set and packaged them all up along with the faux snakeskin decoration for the center of the arrow and the split and trimmed feathers for the end. Now I can just place one at each boy's seat and we will be ready to begin! I'll let you know how it goes . . .

Monday, April 2, 2012

Okay, this week is my week to do the craft for Cub Scouts. Can I come up with a simple project? Noooooooo . . . Of course not. So, we are making arrows. I'm hoping that since all the hard part is pre-finished we should be able to do it in the half hour I have . . . Wish me luck.

This tutorial is for the faux snakeskin, but I will give a quick overview of the whole project. I started with raw wood dowels from the hardware store (3/8"). My husband sawed a notch in one end (for the arrow) and a decorative smaller notch on the other end. We then stained each piece. I ordered some really cool turkey feathers from eBay (note: you could do this project a lot cheaper with craft store feathers, but I wanted it to look more authentic - message me or leave a comment here if you want a link for the feathers). I cut the nib off of the feathers and used both a left and a right feather for each arrow. Using a craft knife I sliced the feathers down the center and the cut a portion from the top, at an angle (see finished arrow later in the week). Using electrical tape (which the boys can cover with cord later if they wish - we will) we attached the arrow into the notch and the the feathers to the end. I just decided to go buy some raw leather cord this morning so we can hang the small side I cut from the feather with a bead from the back end. That's why no finished project until later in the week (can't do anything simply) lol.

Okay, this picture doesn't do it justice, I swear! When I finish I will get a better picture too, but here's what I did. I started with a roll of aluminum plumbers tape ... Yes I said plumbers tape. I cut it into pieces about 4" long (or however long a sizzix embossing folder is - I can check later when hubby not sleeping upstairs) and colored with alcohol inks (you can use sharpie markers and blend with rubbing alcohol too, but it's a little more difficult to get the desired effect. I used a deep yellow and a teal and blended for tones of yellow, green and blue - I threw some red in there too for good measure and used a ranger blending solution to muck it up and blend colors. Next I ran the pieces four at a time through my die cut machine in an embossing folder with a harlequin type pattern (there are several different types that would work - this is just what I had). After that I covered each piece in in embossing ink and then in Lindy Stamp Gang salmon gold embossing powder. After heating and cooling, I used my emboss ink applicator and applied kind of sketchy, in what I consider a snake pattern. I sprinkled black embossing powder and tapped off as much as I could and heated; and voila . . Snakeskin! The best part is that since it's tape, the boys can just stick it right on for a decorative center and finish the end with a thin piece of electrical tape.

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I can't promise to post often and I can't promise to post well, but I let's just see how this blog goes.

I've made attempts to blog before and get busy and; well, just forget to do it. Sooooo, I am going to make every attempt to keep some sort of record of my scrapbooking projects. Every time I create a gift or an item that I sell and don't keep pictures, I kick myself, so let's just see if I can keep track of those items here! I hope you find some little tidbit of inspiration in something I create or someone else's creation that I showcase. With that being said . . . Go Forth and CREATE!